We field questions day after day regarding what types of electrical repairs would be smart, safe, or just okay, for a customer to complete on their own. Today’s world is full of DIY experts, or those trying to become such, or just trying to save money here or there. While there are many small electrical fixes a homeowner can tackle on their own, the majority would not be safe, wise, or realistic for anyone other than an experienced, licensed electrician to take on.
I asked our service electricians (those who handle homes and smaller-scale commercial jobs), our Master Electrician, and our General Manager what repairs they would absolutely recommend calling an electrician (hopefully us!) to handle, and their answers were quite in unison.
So, without further ado, here is the short list for your reading pleasure (and information bank):
–If your main breaker trips, you should never, under any circumstance, trip it back on without first having it checked by a licensed electrician. The main breaker is designed to trip if a problem exists; if you turn it back on without diagnosing the problem, it could damage the wiring, or worse, blow up.
–If you find a receptacle (plug) that is discolored or hot to the touch, call a licensed electrician to replace it. Changing a receptacle may seem easy, but you may not be able to determine why it is discolored or hot, and simply changing it will not repair the overall problem.
–Adding or relocating wires is a job only a licensed electrician should take on. If you do not know what you are doing you can potentially affect and/or overload the entire circuit, causing a fire hazard.
–Do not go in to your attic (or any attic for that matter!) and check on the electrical connections. There are often many damaged wires caused by pests that present a shock hazard. In a dark or insulated attic the problems are often not visible.
If you have any questions about other existing or potential electrical problems, call or email us, and we can get you answers and on our schedule if need be. We are here to help and to keep all of you safe, happy, and comfortable in your home!
